Kuldeep Yadav (born 14 December 1994) is an Indian cricketer who bowls left-arm wrist spin, a rare style once called “chinaman” bowling. He is the first Indian to take two hat-tricks in One Day Internationals and one of the few bowlers with five-wicket hauls in all three international formats. After knee surgery in 2021 he rebuilt his action and returned as one of the best white-ball spinners in the world.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Kuldeep Yadav |
| Born | 14 December 1994, Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Age | 31 |
| Hometown | Kanpur |
| Role | Left-arm wrist spinner |
| International debut | Test March 2017, ODI June 2017, T20I July 2017 |
| Domestic team | Uttar Pradesh |
| IPL teams | Kolkata Knight Riders (2014–2021), Delhi Capitals (2022–) |
| Coach | Kapil Pandey |
Early Life
Kuldeep is the son of a brick-kiln owner who moved the family to Kanpur so that his son could play cricket. He wanted to be a fast bowler like Wasim Akram, but his coach, Kapil Pandey, thought him too small and told him to try spin. His first attempt came out as a left-arm wrist-spinner’s delivery, and the coach told him to stick with it.
Career
At the 2014 Under-19 World Cup he took a hat-trick against Scotland, the first by an Indian in the tournament. He made his Test debut against Australia at Dharamsala in March 2017 and took four wickets in the first innings. He took ODI hat-tricks against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2017 and against West Indies at Visakhapatnam in 2019. With the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal he formed a pairing nicknamed “Kul-Cha” that was central to India’s one-day plans.
A loss of form and confidence from 2019 cost him his place, and he barely played for Kolkata Knight Riders. He had knee surgery in 2021.
With Delhi Capitals from 2022 he bowled with a straighter run-up and more pace through the air, and the wickets returned. He was one of India’s leading bowlers at the 2023 World Cup, took 19 wickets in the 2024 home Test series against England, and played key parts in the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy wins. He was the leading wicket-taker at the 2025 Asia Cup, with four wickets in the final against Pakistan.
Personal Life
Kuldeep got engaged to his childhood friend Vanshika in June 2025. He is a keen follower of football and of FC Barcelona.
Major Titles
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Kuldeep Yadav born?
Kuldeep Yadav was born on 14 December 1994 in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, India and is 31 years old.
What is Kuldeep Yadav’s role?
Role: Left-arm wrist spinner.
Featured image: Kuldeep Yadav with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after India’s T20 World Cup win, New Delhi, 4 July 2024. Photo by Prime Minister’s Office, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
